From YouTube user motuclassics: "Much like we did with MOTU Classics & the Star Wars Black Series line, my sons and I thought it would be fun to try and remake the vintage MEGO Planet of the Apes commercials using the NECA figures! This is a remake of the original introductory commercial from the vintage line. We borrowed the original audio on this one and tweaked it a bit, which I think really helps that "vintage" feel. Hope ya like it!" We do!

01/23/2015

In an interview with DenofGeeks.com, director Rupert Wyatt discussed his film The Gambler, which, interestingly enough, is something of an Apes reunion, given Wyatt directed Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Gambler star Mark Wahlberg starred in the 2001 remake of the original POTA. Over the course of the interview, Wyatt discussed what was next for him: "I'm working on a couple of things. I'm working on a science fiction film, and also a science fiction TV show [Echo Chamber]. Basically science fiction!" When the interviewer noted that Wyatt was a fan of Philip K. Dick and wondered if the project would be anything along those lines, he added, "It is, in the sense that it's very grounded and relatable to our world. It's not space opera or anything like that. The TV show is a ten-part series that has a science fiction trope, but is actually more in keeping with a film like The Battle Of Algiers or something, but told in a science fiction context."

Caesar himself, Andy Serkis, has been seen in the two released trailers for The Avengers: Age of Ultron, though exactly who he's playing hasn't been apparent. Now, according to UPI.com, there seems to be an answer and one that, as is the norm with Marvel, further elaborates on events that will connect to other films produced by the studio. Says the site, "Sources report Serkis is confirmed to play the villain, and an insider told Schmoes Know the role will be a composite character of Klaw and his father, Fritz Klaue. In the Marvel comics, Klaw is a physicist who uses the metal vibranium to manipulate sound. He kills Black Panther's father to steal the substance, and is subsequently maimed by the superhero. Chadwick Boseman will star as Black Panther in Captain America: Civil War and Black Panther."

01/22/2015

Indiewire.com has posted a story that looks at three crucial visual effects sequences from Matt Reeves' Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Below is an excerpt looking at the first of those. The others can be checked out by clicking HERE. Notes the report, "As Weta's senior VFX supervisor Joe Letteri says, 'It's not about the technology — it's about letting dramatic moments develop, and getting out of the way when you need to.' Thus, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes represents the first movie to record most of the performance capture in difficult locations such as Muir Woods, before the more nuanced acting and action were refined in post at James Cameron's Lightstorm stage in Manhattan Beach.

1. One of the most gripping moments occurs when Toby Kebbell's Koba slyly disarms two drunken humans before shockingly gunning them down. "Matt [Reeves] and Toby were able to work the scene in a way that was different from how it appeared on the page and come up with that performance," adds four-time Oscar winner Letteri. "We were able to capture that and work through the translation and made that scene come alive. Toby added subtle details in getting on their good side before taking advantage of them and killing them. It's a really street kind of thing that happens. And so it had that spontaneity that we didn't have to worry about. We let them develop the drama and the animators came in took over." According to visual effects supervisor Dan Lemmon, the scene was striking and chilling to observe: a microcosm of Reeve's approach to making the movie. "You had these talented actors working together on the set and they could play off of each other's ideas. Toby wanted to take situations he was in as a youth in London. Some of the scariest involved people pretending to be your friend who would suddenly turn on you, He ended up improvising half of it on the spot and it became much more powerful. It starts out humorously and then Koba becomes unhinged and you realize that the movie has taken a very dark turn."

01/20/2015

From TooManyWeaponsofComedy on YouTube: "John C. Reilly does a twisted review of the movie "Planet of the Apes". John talks about Mark Wahlberg, Nicholas Cage in the Wicker Man, Ashton Kutcher, the Anchorman fight scene, Spock from Star Trek, Charlton Heston, "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes", "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" & trailers of several other "Planet of the Apes" movies." For the record, this isn't really John C. Reilly.

DarthDevious continues his look at POTA action figures. This time he focuses on Beneath the Planet of the Apes' General Ursus. Of this particular figure he notes, "Wave 2, and my second episode of Planet of the Apes month. Sadly, quality issues hit me on this one, you have been warned."